Addressing the affordability gap through behavior change ... · PDF fileAddressing the...
Transcript of Addressing the affordability gap through behavior change ... · PDF fileAddressing the...
Home energy affordability gap
Bill > 6% gross income (478,996 Marylanders)
Below 50% FPL: 38%; 200% FPL: 8%
Can Behavior change solve the issue?
Data: Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, Public Finance and General Economics, May 2013
Recommended Temperature
Our clients 72.8°F 68.9°F
Who do we work with and for?
Senior | Woman | Renter | Disabled | Worker | In CrisisTransient | Budget billing |
Single parent
Challenges & barriers
Availability (crisis, daycare, several jobs)
Focus on other primary needs (rent, food, medication)
Transportation (no car, medical and disabling condition(s))
Literacy (incl. computer)
Lack of energy education
Education and energy “boring”, not “sexy”
Defiance toward landlords and utility companies
“Can I access your service?”
• Go where clients are already going
• In-person workshops at partners’ locations (implementation)
• Remote access
• Educational game (implementation)
• Smartphone friendly
• www.wattwatchersmaryland.org
• Go where people live
• Community-programs (pilot)
• Affordable housing
“Why should I care?”
Empowerment
“Those who do feel powerless are not informed because the reality is you have all the power and all the control “, Leslie Broadway
By the way, this is an education program…
• Fun as a group, demonstration (in-person)
• Audience-driven (in-person)
• Gamification (online)
chapter4-quiz\chapter4-quiz.html
• Family project (online & in-person)
Impact evaluation (RCT)
Pr. Catherine Wolfram (UC-Berkeley), Pr. Sebastien Houde (University of Maryland)
Program Design Evaluation Design
Thank you!
Fuel Fund of Maryland
Myriam Tourneux
fuelfundmaryland.org | wattwatchersmaryland.org